Nairobi — Professionals in the building sector will review ancient laws that they say have failed to keep quacks out of the sector, leading to poor quality work.

The Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, which has the mandate to register and discipline the two classes of professionals, said it would review the Architects and Quantity Surveyors Act.

The Act, which has been in place for the past 75 years, establishes the board, which is supposed to instil professionalism in architecture and quantity survey, but which lacks the power to stop developments that have had the input of doubtful professionals.

Professionals in the building and construction industry have in the past lamented at their inability to stop poor construction even when there are obvious flaws in the work.

"Even if you know it is illegal and the work should be stopped, you cannot simply walk there and stop those building. You will be charged with trespass," said Mr Gideon Mulyungi, the works secretary at the Ministry of Public Works, and the new chairman of the board.

The professionals are pushing for their oversight role to be anchored in the Constitution. Their move comes in the wake of several cases of collapsed buildings, most of them attributed to the input of quacks.